Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who faces 40 counts of sexual abuse of young boys, denies that he committed any crimes, but acknowledges that he has "horsed around with kids."

"I am innocent of those charges," Sandusky told Bob Costas in a phone interview on Monday night's Rock Center with Brian Williams. "I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them, and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact."

Sandusky, 67, is charged with sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year span. According to the 23-page grand jury report, assistant coach Mike McQueary witnessed Sandusky raping a young boy in a Penn State shower in 2002, but Sandusky denies any sexual misconduct."We were showering and horsing around and [the boy] actually turned all the showers on and was actually sliding across the floor and we were, as I recall, possibly like snapping a towel," he said.Asked if he were a pedophile, Sandusky answered "no.""Are you sexually attracted to young boys, to underage boys?" Costas followed up."Sexually attracted, you know, I enjoy young people," Sandusky said. "I love to be around them. But, no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys."

Sandusky's attorney, Joe Amendola, who appeared on the show, maintained his client's innocence and said that his team has identified several boys — including the child in question in McQueary's allegation — who will deny the accusations.

The New York Times, however, reports that as many as 10 more alleged victims of Sandusky have come forward, according to police close to the investigation.

Costas pointed out that while Sandusky's innocent until proven guilty by law, a majority of the public already considers him "some sort of monster."

"I don't know what I can say or what I could say that would make anybody feel any different now," Sandusky said. "I would just say that if somehow people could hang out until my attorney has a chance to fight, you know, for my innocence. That's about all I could ask right now. And you know, obviously, it's a huge challenge."